KARNES COUNTY – The Karnes County Crime Stoppers program began operating May 1 and according to Board Member Trey Hill, local people who are involved with the effort are very optimistic that the program will become a powerful tool that local, state and federal law-enforcement agencies can use to fight crime in Karnes County.

Crime Stoppers programs offer cash rewards for tips leading to the arrest of individuals who may be involved in criminal activities.

The number to call in Karnes County with a tip is 830-780-4636.

According to information from the group, the call center is in another part of the state which will help keep all tips anonymous. Not even board members will have a way of knowing who calls to pass along information that may assist law-enforcement officers in solving a crime.

“Once a tip is received,” Hill said. “It is then sent to our coordinator who then gives the information to the appropriate law-enforcement officials.”

People who call the hotline will be given a procedure to follow that is designed to keep the identity of callers completely anonymous.

When the tip provides sufficient evidence to make an arrest, a reward will then be given to the caller. The amount of the reward is based on the seriousness of the crime.

Since the program began, statewide, more than 181,000 suspects have been arrested and more than $41 million in rewards have been paid as part of the program. More than $247 million in property has been recovered and $1.07 billion in narcotics have been seized.